Boot-tree



GEORGE D. BATEMAN, OF PINOKNEYVILLE, ILLINOIS.

BOOT-TREE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 319,667, dated June 9, 1885.

Application filed December 22, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE D. BATEMAN, of Pinckneyville, in the county of Perry and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Boot-Trees; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specication, and in which- Figure lis a side view of my improved boottree. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a horizontal transverse sectional view, and Fig. 4 is a detail View showing the parts composing my improved boottree detached from each other.

The same letters refer to the same parts in all the iigures.

This invention relates to boot-trees; and it has for its object to provide a device which shall possess superior advantages in point of simplicity, durability, inexpensiveness, ease of operation, and general efficiency.

With these ends in view the invention consists in the improved construction and arrangement of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings hereto annexed, A designates the front section of my improved boottree, which is provided at its lower end with the detachable foot portion B, which isconnected thereto by a dovetailed lange, C, adapted to enter a corresponding dovetailed slot or groove, D, in the lower end of the section A, as shown.

E is the middle-section, which is provided with a transverse longitudinal slot, F, extending from its lower end for the greater portion ot' its length toward the top. Said slot forms a way or guide for awedgeshaped key, G, which is provided with a longitudinal screw-threaded perforation or bearing, H, for an operatingscrew, I, which is swiveled or journaled in a suitable bearing, J, vat the upper end of the section E. The upper end of the screw I is provided with a collar or flange, K, between which and the bearingl'is arranged a latch or turn-button, L. l

The sides of the middle section, E, of my improved boot-tree are provided with rearwardly-eXtending flanges M M, between which is fitted the rear section, N, the lower end of which has an inclined or wedge-shaped recess, O, adapted to receive and engage the face of the wedge-shaped key or block G, -which is vertically adjustable by the screw I, as stated. The upper end of the rear section, N, has a set-screw or thumb-screw, P, bearing against theupper end of the middle section, as shown, and serving, when desired, to spread or ex` pand the upper end of the boot-tree.

It will be noticed that the grooves Q Q in o'ov the sides of the key or wedge G, which form Y the bearings for the sides of the slot F of the middle section, E, aresomewhat wider than the sides of the said slot, thereby permitting 4a slight play or motion of the said wedgeshaped block. By this construction it will be seen that when the key or wedge is raised it will act against both the front and rear sections of the boot-tree, and thus expand the said sections, and hence the front and rear parts of the boot simultaneously, the advantages of which will be readily understood. It will be noticed, however, that the expansion of the front section is comparatively slight, while the rear section, which is principally acted upon by the wedge-shaped key, is covered and guarded by the flanges Mot the middle section. which serve to form a solid joint or connection and enable the seam to be set up perfectly. The upper end of the boot-tree is expanded by the set-screw P.

The advantages of my improved boot-tree will be readily understood from the foregoing description, taken Yin connection with the drawings hereto annexed. It is simple in construction, easily applied, and owing to its peculiar construction it may, after use, be readily detached or removed from the boot -by simplyloosening the thumbscrewPa-ndlowering the wedge G, without the employment of more force than is necessary simply to lift the several sections of the tree out of the boot-leg.

It is obvious that the several partsv of the that may be found useful for the purpose.

The invention, as will be readily seen, is also IOO susceptible of various changes with regard to the construction of details, and I would have it understood that I reserve to myself the right to all such changes and modifications as may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States- In 'a boot-tree, the combination of the middlesection havinga slot and a vertically-mova ble key or wedge, a swiveled operatingserew having a latch o1' turn-button, and the front 

